Ship log



J. WALKER June 17, 1930.

SHIPLOG Filed May 14, 1928 Patented June 17, 1930 JEFFERY WALKER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND rem OFFICE 1 SHIP LOG Application filed May 14,1928, Serial n01 277,722, and in Great aal- July 7, 1927.

Thislinvention relates to ship logs of the submerged type, that is to say, wherein'the rotator projects into the water from the hull o fthe ship whereon it is carried by atubular housing, and the invention has primarily for its Object to secure'greater efii'ciency in a log having a rotator of the screw type, while it alsohas for its other objects to prevent foulingof the rotator by sea-weed, or other like obstructions, to avoid sand, grit or water being driven into the bearings of the rotator spindle, and'to enable the log mechanism and hearings to be lubricated automatically.

Accordingly, a ship log of the type specified is operated by means, of a rotator' which with its housing is disposed at an inclination to the hull ofthe ship and directed towards the stern thereof. Further, the rotator'isprovided with vanes whereof the'acting faces present helical surfaces which are so contoured that as the rotator moves each vane 1 presents to the water the maximum effective surface at right angles or su'bstantiallyfat right angles to the direction of the flow of waterpastthefrotator; i v Y] The aforesaidhousing extends below the lower bearing of the rotator spin-dlefthereby aifording protection against the entry of grit Y thereinto as the ship'moves through the water, the lower edge of the housing being either inclinedxrelatively to or parallel with the hull. of the'ship. i

If desired, the housing be prolonged at its lower extremity to vprotect therotat'or; inaction and it may also, if'de'sired, be ,de-

signed; sogas to offer axial of the rotator spindle: e

In order to'assist lubrication of the mechsupport to the foot anism contained'by the housing, theirotator spindle may be helically grooved or otherwise adaptedto convey lubricant and an oil container having a ball or other sui'table automatic valve may be located above and in com muni ationwith the housingi'the' lubrication beiilg further assistedby t renaai nyor a partial vacuum around the lower bearing ed by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a sectional V elevation and'Figure' 2 is a detail view of a modified shape oii'ihousing for-{the rotator spindle and its associated mechanism. a

A repr sents the hull of the vessel above an aperture in which'is fixed an inclined tubular bracket B provided with a valve .C adapted to be operated by a handwheelD when the log is not insitu.

Into the inclined bracket B is fitted removablya tubular housing E which projects I through the hull towards the stern of the vessel and intowhich is led an electriccable F connecting the chart room receiver with malre-anchbreak mechanism (not shown) which in turn'is connected operatively by a flexible shaft F withthe transmission mechanism G whereof the primary spindle H is;

coupled atJ to a spindle K carrying at its lower extremity the rotator'L. v

The rotator spindle'K is supported at its upper end laterally by a ball bearing K and axially by a ball bearing K both accommo dated in'a sleeve K fitted appropriately into thehousing E; aball bearing K accommodated'ina sleeve Ksupports the rotator spindle Klaterally near its point'of exit from'th'e lower end of the housing E and is enclosed by a ring K screwed into the lower end'of the housing E and fitting closely around an" enlargement or collar Ki forined on the ro-. tater spi nile IQ just below the bearing Kit.

direction of the flow of water past the rotator,

thus rendering the rotator efiicient at low speeds. i i

At its bottom end the surface of the housing E is tapered and the extreme lower edge is arranged to overlap slightly the upper end of the rotator L. instead of being inclined to the hull A as shown in Figure 1 the lower edge of the housing E may be parallelwith the hull as'shown in Figure 2; the

e arrangement in both cases being such as to shroud the bearing K This shrouding'of the bearing Kt, besides affording a protection against the entry of grit also, in con unction with the inclination of thehousing, induces, athigh speeds, a partialvacuum around the bearing K as the ship moves through the water, advantage being taken of this eiiect to provide automatic lubrication of the mechanism and the bearings containedby the housing E.

There is accordingly mounted at the head of housing E a lubricant container Min com munication with theinterior of the casing of the flexible shaft F by way of ball-valves M and M and flows through said casing to the transmission G and thence past the lower bearing ofthe latter to the upper bearings K and K of the rotator spindle K. The rotator'spindle K is helical-1y grooved as at K 'in order to convey along it the lubricant which ,is induced to flow out of container M by the suctiondue to the partial vacuum set ,up around bearing K when the log is in operation.

It will be appreciated that, instead of proj cting downwardly through the bot-tom of the vessel, as illustrated, the housing may be directed laterally through the hull, as will be easily understood by regarding Figure 1 asa sect onal PltlIbVlBW. Further, theinvention is not limited to a rotator of the helical type, but is equally applicable to a rotator having straight vanes, which, however,

tion and arrangement, increased efficiency is grit or water, while at *the' same time the inclination 'offthe tubular 'housing'and the;

form of the screw rotator cause sea weed, jelly fish and the like "to pass over the log withwould, beless'efficient than the former at slow speeds. By means of'the above described construeout obstructing it. Further, the lubrication of the mechanism is assured, which is an important factor in securing and maintalnmg the necessary accuracy and efiiciency 1n a log.

What I claim is 1. A ship log comprising a tubular bracket having means for supporting it at an inclination over an opening in the hull of a ship with its lower end directed toward the stern of such ship, a tubular housing removably fitting within said tubular bracket to project into the water, a rotator spindle extending axially of said housing, a bearing within said housing to support said spindle adjacent its upper end, a second bearing in said housing adjacent the lower end of the latter to support said rotator spindle adjacent its lower end, and a rotator carried by the lower end f said rotator spindle, said rotator having'its upper end extending into the lower end of said housing, said rotator having its lower end projecting beyond the housing and comprising vanes each of such a contour as to present the maximum elfective surfaceat, substantially a right angle to the flow of water past said rotator.

2. A ship log according to claim 1 including a lubricant container and means connecting the lubricant container with the tubular housing so thatlubricant is drawn through the tubular housing by the rotation of the rotator. V

3. A ship log comprising a tubular bracket I havingmeans for supporting it at an inclination over an opening in the hull of a ship'with its lower end directed toward the stern of such ship, a tubular housing removably fitting within said tubular bracket with itslower end immersed in the water, a rotater spindle extending axially of said housing, a bearing in said housingadjacent the lower end of' the latter to support said spindle adjacent its'lower end,'a-nd arotator carried by the lower end of the rotator spindle, said rotator having its upperendextending into 'thelower end of said housing, said rotator having its lower end projecting beyond the housing and comprising vanes of which the acting faces each presents a helical surface disposed substantially at a; right angle tothe direction of flow of water past the same;

4. A ship log comprising a tubular bracket having means for supporting it in an inclined position adjacent the stern of a ship with its'lower end-directed rearwardly of the stern of such ship, a tubularhousing removably fitting within said bracket with its lower end immersed in the water, a lubricant con-v taine'r, means connecting said lubricant contamer with said tubular housmg, a spindle extendmg longitudinally of said housing and.

rotatable therein, abearing for said spindle in said housing adj acentthe lowerend of the latter, and a rotator carried by the lower end of said spindle beyond the lower'end of'said I housing and comprising a plurality of vanes of which the acting faces present helical surfaces directed at substantially right angles to the flow of water past the same, said hous ing having at its lower end an extension surrounding the upper ends of said vanes, whereby the rotation of said rotator causes a partial Vacuum within said housing and a flow of lubricant from said container through said housing to said bearing. v

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature.

J EFFERY WALKER. 

